100 Years Ago – Sept. 24, 1919
Building— The new Odd Fellows building on Herschel Avenue, facing the new post office, is rapidly approaching completion.
75 Years Ago – Sept. 21, 1944
The case of the contented cow — We’ll call this story “The Case of the Blindfolded Cow.” Recently Bill Turgeon, Maine Inland Fisheries and Game pilot, and Warden Cash Austin were flying over Eagle Lake in Aroostook County, when they noticed an animal swimming in the lake. Dropping down closer they saw it was a blindfolded cow. Bill landed the float plane on the lake and Cash grabbed the cow by its horns and towed it ashore. How a blindfolded cow ended up in Eagle Lake is one of the mysteries that keep an outdoor writer from becoming bored.
School — The Caribou High School opened last week with the largest attendance in its history since the school was graded. There were 116 pupils in attendance, 45 in the entering class.
50 Years Ago – Sept. 24, 1969
Hotel — The 20-year-old Plymouth Hotel in Fort Fairfield has been purchased by Northern Properties Inc. of Caribou. James L. Martin is president. The purchase was made from John Nappi Testamentary Trust of Portland. Originally costing about $450,000-$475,000, equipped by a corporation of Fort Fairfield residents, it later was turned over to the Small Business Administration and in 1961 became the property of Nappi for $70,000. Northern Properties also operates the Prestile Terrace Motor Hotel in Caribou.
25 Years Ago – Sept. 21, 1994
Forestry company donates — The largest contribution to date for the New Sweden School Building Fund was received Sept. 9 by Jim Flavin, school committee chairman and building committee member, when he accepted a check for $2,500 donated by J.D. Irving Forest Products. Paul Sullivan of the company’s Fort Kent office presented the check. Because the cost of the land purchased by the building committee for the New Sweden School site exceeded the state’s payment by $12,000, the building committee has been conducting fund-raisers and requesting donations to cover the shortfall. Fund-raising activities so far have been sales of sweatshirts and t-shirts, chances for a trip to Florida, and a square dance. Earlier donations include $50 from a Caribou drugstore and $100 from a Caribou office supply company.
125th Committee — The 125th anniversary of the coming of the Swedes to northern Maine was the subject of a recent meeting of some of the volunteer steering committee members when they met with Bruce Hazarrd, an experienced planner of celebrations and a director of the Annual Maine Festival in Brunswick. Hazard volunteered his time and expertise to help coordinate the planning which has already taken place, to make further suggestions, and help with one or more grant applications to help fund musical and historical programs.
